A couple of years ago, if a Sunderland player had been mentioned in the same breath as Barcelona and Spain superstar, you would have been forgiven for wondering if this was reality or some virtual Football Manager save.
It is to the credit of Sunderland’s coaches then – from the academy right up to the first-team – that Chris Rigg can now be considered one of the brightest young talents, not only in English football, but across the entire globe.
The Guardian’s annual, 60-strong list of ‘the best young talents in world football’ contains some pretty recognisable names.
Lamine Yamal, of course, being the most obvious. The Barcelona whizzkid who inspired Spain to European Championship glory over the summer.
If Yamal is the jewell in this generation’s La Masia crown, however, then defender Pau Cubarsi is not too far behind.
Cubarsi also strolls into The Guardian’s yearly array of wonderkids, alongside River Plate’s Real Madrid target Franco Mastantuono, Manchester United striking sensation Chido-Obi Martin and Bayern Munich’s rising star Jonah Kusi-Asare.
And then there is Rigg. One of the few on the list actually playing first-team football week-in, week-out, and the only one contracted to a club in England’s second tier.
Sunderland’s Chris Rigg named alongside Barcelona wonderkids
“At 17, Rigg is very much the heartbeat of Regis Le Bris’s promotion-chasing Championship side,” The Guardian write.
“Eclipsing even his uber-talented fellow Stadium of Light central midfielder Jobe Bellingham.”
Understandably, the Wearsiders are in no rush to pit their two teen sensations against one another. Rigg and Bellingham instead make up two-thirds of an ‘amazing’ Sunderland midfield, of which Dan Neil is a relative veteran at the ripe old age of 22.
Rigg, still only 17, has started all of the Black Cats’ last eight Championship games. The England Under 18 captain is starting to add goals to his game as well.
Rigg followed up that sumptuous backheel winner against North East neighbours Middlesbrough with a well-timed run and finish in the thrilling 2-2 draw with promotion challengers Leeds United.
Former coach thinks Sunderland have a ‘diamond’ in Rigg
Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman wants to avoid piling unnecessary pressure onto Rigg’s Sunderland shoulders.
But, having watched Rigg hone his exceptional footwork and his reading of the game at Hebburn Town’s Futsal team, former coach Steven Richardson is nor surprised to see the Black Cats’ number 11 go from strength to strength.
“He’s so cool and calm. [Rigg] knows how good he is and that’s not a bad thing,” Richardson tells The Chronicle. “He knows when he goes out on that pitch he’s going to give everything he’s got, not a thing less. He knows his ability will help him as well.
“To have a player like that, Sunderland have got an absolute diamond.
“He’s never not going to try. He’s always going to give everything until he can’t give anymore. He could probably play 100 to 180 minutes. He’s like a Duracell bunny but he’s controlled with it as well.
“He’ll play his position and do his job. The other thing is, he knows exactly what everyone else should be doing as well.”
Rigg will be one of the first names on Le Bris’ team sheet when Sunderland travel to Hull City upon the resumption of the Championship season this weekend.